Adjustable stand

ABSTRACT

A BOOK-HOLDING STAND HAVING A SHALLOW TRAY WITH A FLAT BOTTOM AGAINST WHICH AN OPEN BOOK CAN BE PLACED AND HELD FOR READING PURPOSES. THE TRAY IS FIXEDLY SECURED TO A TUBULAR CROSSPIECE WHICH IS SUPPORTED BETWEEN TWO PAIRS OF SPREADING LEGS IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PERMIT ROTATABLE ADJUSTMENT OF THE TRAY THROUGH 630 DEGREES AROUND THE AXIS OF THE CROSSPIECE. DISPOSED WITHIN THE TRAY ARE TWO STRIPS OF EXERCISER CORD, DESIGNED AND POSITIONED TO HOLD THE OUTSTRETCHED COVERS OF A BOOK FLAT AGAINST ITS BOTTOM. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRAY HAS A STIFF, TRANSPARENT PLASTIC COVER FASTENED IN PLACE BY MEANS OF SPRING CABINET HINGES. THE PARTS OF THE STAND COOPERATE TO HOLD AN OPEN BOOK IN READING POSITION IN THE TRAY BEHIND THE PLASTIC COVER, AND   PERMIT THE COVER TO BE OPENED AS NECESSARY FOR EASY TURNING OF THE PAGES OF THE BOOK. THE TRAY CAN BE TURNED TO FACE ANY READER, EVEN ONE LYING ON HIS BACK. THE LEGS OF THE STAND ARE BENT, AND CAN BE SWIVELED AND TELESCOPICALLY ADJUSTED TO VARY THE HEIGHT AND POSITION OF THE BOOK-HOLDING TRAY.

May 23, 1972 D. L. REED 3,664,629

ADJUSTABLE STAND Filed May l4 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR.

y 3, 1972 D. L. REED 3,664,629

ADJUSTABLE STAND Filed May 14, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR. fiW//{T A. 3550 United States Patent Oihce Patented May 23, 1972 3,664,629 ADJUSTABLE STAND Dwight L. Reed, 2951 Central, Riverside, Calif. 92506 Filed May 14, 1970, Ser. No. 37,199 Int. Cl. A47b 23/02 US. Cl. 248445 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A book-holding stand having a shallow tray with a flat bottom against which an open book can be placed and held for reading purposes. The tray is fixedly secured to a tubular crosspiece which is supported between two pairs of spreading legs in such a way as to permit rotatable adjustment of the tray through 360 degrees around the axis of the crosspiece. Disposed within the tray are two strips of exerciser cord, designed and positioned to hold the outstretched covers of a book flat against its bottom. Additionally, the tray has a stiff, transparent plastic cover fastened in place by means of spring cabinet hinges. The parts of the stand cooperate to hold an open book in reading position in the tray behind the plastic cover, and permit the cover to be opened as necessary for easy turning of the pages of the book. The tray can be turned to face any reader, even one lying on his back. The legs of the stand are bent, and can be sWi'veled and telescopically adjusted to vary the height and position of the book-holding tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a new and unique stand with a tiltably adjustable top, and more particularly to such a stand capable of holding a book in any of a number of reading positions for the convenience of sitting, lying, standing, etc., persons.

The prior art is replete with disclosures of stands or supports for the holding of books, sheet music, and the like, in reading, or other, positions for the benefit of persons who cannot, for one reason or another, conveniently hold such materials themselves. Examples of such stands or supports include various book rests designed for use on tables and desks; music holders supported on fixed or movable uprights; and book-holding or reading racks designed for use by bed patients. The latter are, as a rule, made for specialized use by bedridden invalids, some of whom are unable to assume sitting positions. Stands or supports of these types are generally designed for a rather limited field of use. In many instances they are heavy and cumbersome and suited only for positioning in particular locations. Often they are difficult to adjust, especially by the persons for Whose use they are intended, and have no means whereby the pages of books held in reading positions can be conveniently turned by such persons.

In spite of the fact that many forms of book-holding stands and supports are known to the art, there is still no such device, at least insofar as I am aware, adapted to fill perhaps the greatest need of all in this area. People have a universal habit of reading for extended periods of time in a great number of sitting, lying, standing, etc., positions, in many of which it is extremely uncomfortable to hold a book, at least for any length of time, and no stand versatile enough to provide support for the book under all such circumstances has as yet, to my knowledge, appeared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The support stand of this invention has a flat top mounted between two pairs of spreading legs in such a way as to be tiltably adjustable for the accommodation of persons in virtually any reading, or working, position relative thereto. In the preferred form of the stand, this top is a shallow tray with a flat bottom sized to receive the outspread covers of a book, and is tiltable through 360 degrees so as to face in any direction, even downwardly to permit a person lying on his back to look up at a book positioned over his head in the tray. The tray has associated means, preferably two strips of exerciser cord fastened at their ends to the tray bottom, for holding the covers of the book in place in the stand, and a clear plastic cover for the tray depression. The plastic cover is fastened to an edge, or rim, of the tray with a pair of spring cabinet hinges adapted to hold it closed over an open book in the tray with sufiicient force to keep the book in place through all tilt positions of the latter.

The separate legs of each of the pairs of spreading legs supporting the tray are joined at their upper ends by means of a proper fitting, and diverge downwardly therefrom to spaced apart contact with the floor, or other surface of support for the stand. Furthermore, each of these legs is slightly bent near, and mounted for twist adjustability at, its upper end, as well as being, in the preferred form of the stand, telescopically adjustable for length. As will appear from the description of the preferred embodiment of this invention to follow, these features of the legs of the support stand combine with its tray tiltability to permit easy transformation of the stand into any of a Wide variety of leg configurations, tray heights, etc., and render it suitable for use under a wide variety of conditions. For example, the stand can be readily converted into forms suitable for book-holding, writing surface, work surface, etc., purposes, and adjusted for convenient use by a person sitting in a chair, on a sofa, or elsewhere; sitting on the floor; lying on the floor; standing; or assuming any of a number of other positions. As will be seen, certain leg adjustments of the stand permit its use with two legs supported on a chair or sofa and the other two supported on the floor, for positioning of the tray comfortably in front of a person sitting on the chair or sofa.

It is thus a principal object of this invention to provide a book-holding stand adjustable through a wide range of accommodative positions for persons in a great variety of sitting, lying, standing, etc., reading positions.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a stand of particular suitability for reading use by invalids, and others, confined temporarily or permanently to their beds.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a stand designed to hold an open book in suitable reading position over the head of a person lying on his back in bed, or elsewhere.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such stand of inexpensive, lightweight construction; attractive appearance; easy adjustability; and capable of disassembly into parts readily transportable, in compact form, from one place to another.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a stand with assoicated means through which a reader temporarily or permanently deprived of the use of his hands can turn the pages of a book supported thereby.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of subsequent disclosures herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a book-holding stand in accordance with this invention supporting a book in a tilted reading position in a rotatably adjustable tray forming an important part of the stand.

'FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the FIG. 1 stand with with the tray rotatably adjusted to a substantially vertical position, and showing, in solid and phantom lines, re-

spectively, two swivel positions of one of four bent sup port legs capable of being swivelly adjusted, at their upper ends to change the height and position of the tray for use under a variety of conditions.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, interrupted view of a part of one side of the stand structure, taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged cross section of one of the legs of the stand, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section of the tray in its FIG. 2 position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a variant form of the FIG. 1 stand adjusted and positioned for use by a person sitting in an armchair.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the FIG. 1 stand, drawn to a reduced scale, adjusted and positioned for use by a person lying on his back.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the FIG. 7 stand adjusted for use as a reading stand by a person sitting on the floor with his legs stretched thereunder.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the FIG. 6 stand adjusted and positioned for use by a person sitting on a sofa.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the FIG. 7 stand adjusted for use as a writing stand by a person sitting on the floor with his legs stretched thereunder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering now the drawings in greater detail, with emphasis first on FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown generally at S a preferred embodiment of a book-holding stand in accordance with this invention. Stand S comprises a tray assembly 10, adapted to support a book in reading position under various use conditions, and two leg assemblies 12 with associative means to hold tray assembly 10 therebetween, in the manner generally illustrated in FIG.1. The tray assembly is made up of a metal tray 14, similar in structure and appearance to a conventional TV or utility tray, and a tubular crosspiece 16 mounted underneath the tray by means of a pair of conduit clips 18, one of which can be seen in FIG. 5, and associated nut and screw fasteners 19. The tubular crosspiece 16 is preferably, but not necessarily, a section of thin-walled electrical conduit (for example, /2-inch conduit), cut to the proper length to support tray 14, and permit unhindered tilting adjustment thereof (in the manner illustrated by the two tray positions in FIGS. 1 and 2) between the leg assemblies 12.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, and the drawing, crosspiece 16 is fastened to the bottom of tray 14, along its longitudinal center line, in sufiiciently tight fashion to permit turning of the tray and crosspiece as a unit around the axis of the latter. Fastened in parallel relationship to the bottom of tray 14 are two equal lengths of exerciser cord 28. Exerciser cord, or, as it is sometimes called, shock cord, is an elastic cord of the type employed in exercising devices, automobile trunk lid fasteners, and the like. Exerciser cord is readily available from commercial sources, a typical example of which is manufactured and sold by United Tent & Supply Company of Los Angeles, Calif., under the proprietary name Bungee cord. The lengths of exerciser cord 28 are anchored in place against the bottom of tray 14, with their ends extending through properly spaced apertures in the tray bottom, by means of electrical clips which have been fitted to said ends and squeezed until they are too broad to pass through the apertures. The two ends of one of the exerciser cords, with the electrical clips in place thereon, can be seen at 27 in FIG. 2. These exerciser cards 28, hereinafter referred to as cover holders 28, are properly spaced to hold the outspread covers of an open book fiat against the bottom of tray 14, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. By virtue of their elasticity, cover holders 28 can be easily pulled away from the tray bottom, to permit book covers to be inserted thereunder,

and then released against the covers to hold them firmly in place. Equivalent means can be substituted for the exerciser cord cover holders within the scope of my invention. For example, suitable lengths of garter, or equivalent, spring stock could, if desired, be fastened to the bottom of tray 14, as substitute book cover holding means for cover holders 28.

Fixedly secured to the rim of tray 14, by means of a pair of spring cabinet hinges 22, is a clear plexiglass tray cover 20. Spring cabinet hinges 22 serve to hold cover 20 in its normally closed position over tray 14, yet permit the cover to be opened by an outward pull on its bottom edge. To permit the cover to be easily opened in this fashion, there is provided a cover handle 24, consisting of a pull knob 23 and an anchoring suction cup 25. Other types of pulling handles can, of course, be substituted for handle 24, within the scope of my invention.

As will now be evident, particularly in view of FIG. 1 (which shows a book 29 fastened in reading position in tray 14), the book cover holders 28 and hinge-held cover 20 cooperate to hold an open book in the tray, for reading, or other purposes, at any angle of tray tilt. This is true even though the tray is turned to face downwardly, for the benefit of a reader lying on his back (see FIG. 7), as I have determined through use of a book-holding stand, constructed similarly to stand S from conventional components such as described above, throughout the entire range of contemplated tray positions. The tray of this stand was an ordinary TV tray, which was found to be sufiiciently deep to accommodate hard cover books throughout a fairly wide range of sizes. I attached a small reading lamp to an edge of the tray of the stand in suitable position to provide illumination of the tray area and permit use of the stand under conditions where other light is either insufficient or unavailable, such as, for example, when the tray is turned downwardly to accommodate a person lying on his back and there is no source of up wardly directed light for illumination of a book in the tray. A lamp of this type is, of course, an optional, and not a critical, component of my book-holding stand. Such a lamp is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings at 26.

Tray assembly 10 is supported at the desired height above a support surface by means of the aforesaid leg assemblies 12. There are two of these leg assemblies, of similar construction, each consisting of a three-way plumbing elbow 34 with a pair of legs 13 fastened in two of its openings, in a manner hereinafter described, and a setscrew connector 30 screwed into the third opening, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. A setscrew connector is a tubular electrical fixture of well-known character, having (in terms of reference to setscrew connector 30) a threaded end 31, a smooth-bored nonthreaded end 33, an enlarged wrench-grip segment 35 and a setscrew 32 mounted in an appropriately tapped opening in the nonthreaded end 33 of the connector. Setscrew connector 30 is sized to snugly receive an end of tubular crosspiece 16 in the bore of its nonthreaded end 33 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 Threaded end 31 of each setscrew connector 30 threadedly engages an opening of a separate one of the three-way plumbing elbows 34. The bore of each setscrew connector has segments of differing cross-sectional size, separated by a shoulder 37 against which an end of tubular crosspiece 16 abuts when it is fully inserted in said setscrew connector. As will now be apparent, the two ends of crosspiece 16 of tray assembly 10 are fixedly secured in the setscrew connectors 30 by means of the setscrews 32. To change the tilt, or rotational position, of the tray assembly about the axis of crosspiece 16, it is only necessary to loosen the setscrews in setscrew connectors 30, and rotate the tray assembly as desired, after which the setscrews are again tightened to anchor the tray assembly in that particular position of rotation.

The legs 13 of the two leg assemblies 12 are connected at their upper ends to the two three-way elbows 34 by means of four compression connectors 36. Compression connectors, similarly to setscrew connectors, are wellknown and readily available electrical fixtures by means of which electrical conduit, or the equivalent, can be connected to plumbing elbows, or the like, in twist-adjustable relationship, whereby the connected parts are adjustable to different positions of twist, or swivel, relative to one another. The legs 13 are of telescoping character, each having an upper segment 42 and a lower segment 44 which are slideably adjustable to permit the legs to be varied in length.

As FIG. 3 best illustrates, the telescoping segments of the legs 13 are tubular. The lower segment fits into the upper segment and has a twist lock mechanism 46 attached to its upper end to permit the two leg segments to be locked together at any degree of leg extension by a mere twisting of lower segment 44 within the upper segment 42. The twist lock mechanism 46 is a conventional type of locking means for telescoping poles, or the like, such as, for example, tent poles, and consists of a disklike cam member 48, smaller in diameter than the inner bore of the upper leg segment 42, mounted off center on an off-center pin, or shaft, 50 mounted in a plug 49 tightly fitted in the upper end of the lower leg segment 44, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The pin 50 has an enlarged head 53 on its upper end, which prevents the escape of cam 48 therefrom, and the relative sizes of the pin diameter and the diameter of the off-center hole in the cam member 48 through which it passes are such as to permit free turning of the cam member around the pin when the leg segments are not locked together. A mere twist of the lower leg segment 44, relative to the upper leg segment, is suflicient to either loosen, or tighten, the twist lock mechanism, and a quick and easy means of fastening the two leg segments together at any desired leg length is thereby made possible.

The upper leg segment 42 of each of legs 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, prepared from thin-wall conduit similar to the preferred conduit for crosspiece 16 described above. The compression connectors 36 are of identical contruction, each having a cylindrical body portion 39 with externally threaded ends separated by a collar-like enlarged portion 41 with a hexagonal periphery adapted to receive a wrench; a nut 38 with an annular, inturned flange which forms an internal shoulder 43; and a compressible insert 40 adapted to fit against the internal shoulder 43 of the nut 38. As will be clear from FIG. 3, and an understanding of the manner in which compression connectors function, each of the legs 13 is connected to a separate opening of one of the three-way plumbing elbows 34 by screwing one threaded end of the cylindrical body portion 39 of a compression connector thereinto, and inserting the upper end of the upper leg segment 42 of the leg into the bore at the opposite end of 'said body portion 39, with the nut 38, and compressible insert 40, positioned around said leg segment so as to permit tightening of the nut, against the insert, on the opposite end of the body portion of the connector. There is an internal shoulder 45 in body portion 39 of the compression connector against which the upper end of the upper leg segment 42 abuts when the latter is inserted in the compression connector in the described manner. After the upper leg segment is so inserted, it is secured firmly in place by a tightening of the nut 38 until it compresses insert 40 to a sufficient extent to cause the latter to hold said leg segment in a tight friction grip. To twist the upper leg segment to some other position of rotational adjustment in the three-way elbow 34, it is only necessary to loosen nut 38 until the compressible insert 40 releases its grip on the upper leg segment enough to permit turning of the latter, swivel the leg to the desired new position, and retighten nut 38.

The upper segment of each of the legs 13 is bent through a slight angle near its upper end, as illustrated at 21 on the drawings. This bend permits twisting adjustment of the legs to raise or lower the position of tray 14, and change the form of the stand, for specialized use purposes. FIG. 2 shows in solid and phantom lines respectively the extreme positions of swivel of one of the legs 13 of stand S. The angle of bend 21 in the legs of the stand can vary within fairly wide limits although an angle approximately the same as that illustrated in FIG. 2 (about 15 degrees) has been found to give a wide range of leg adjustability in said stand. As will now be evident the 360-degree tilt adjustability of tray 14, telescoping feature of legs 13 and twist adjustability of legs 13 combine to provide an extremely wide range of positional adjustments of stand S and render it suitable for a great variety of specialized uses. This wide versatility of positional adjustment, and the many specialized uses of the stand made possible thereby, are illustrated by FIGS. 6-l0, which show the stand arranged in a few of the many positions it is capable of assuming for such uses.

FIGS. 6-10 actually illustrate two variant forms of my novel stand, FIGS. 6 and 9 showing one, and FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 the other, of these forms. The stand illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 is structurally equivalent to stand S. The stand shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, however, differs from stand S in that it has no tray cover (such as Plexiglascover 20) to hold the pages of a book in place, but, instead, has a pair of spring wire clips 55 attached to the tray (the stand obviously has a tray like that of stand S, except for its lack of a cover) in such a way as to perform this function. These clips are fastened to the bottom of the tray, near its lower edge, and bent to extend straight out from the tray and then loop over the opposite pages of an open book in the tray to downbearing contact, at their forward ends, with these pages.

The manner in which the wire clips are anchored to the tray bottom is such as to permit them to be swivelled about their anchor points to facilitate the turning of the book pages by a reader at the stand. The clips are sufficiently stiff to exert an easy pressure on the book pages at their forward tips, yet resilient enough to permit almost effortless lifting of these tips away from the book pages by a reader, or one readying the stand for use by another. As a result of their resiliency and easy responsiveness to swivelling movement, the wire clips 55 are particularly suitable for use on stands employed by bedridden persons (including those deprived of the use of their hands, who can, I have ascertained, turn the pages of a book held by the clips with a lightweight stick or other elongate object, held in the mouth).

While the novel support stand of this invention has been herein illustrated and specifically described in what are considered to be preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention. Certain of these departures have already been mentioned, and others will occur to those skilled in the art, in the light of present teachings. As an example of the latter, a crosspiece and leg assemblies made of plastic tubing and appropriate fittings of the type employed in water sprinkling systems could be substituted for the metal crosspiece and leg assemblies of stand S. A stand constructed from such plastic tubing and fittings would be lighter and more portable than stand S, with its metal crosspiece, legs and fittings, although perhaps not as sturdy and dependable as the latter. Where the legs of the stand are made of plastic tubing, they can be more easily adjusted for length by means of extension segments and friction fit couplings, than by telescoping means. For that matter, a stand without length-adjustable legs, but retaining the swivel adjustability feature of the stand S legs, would fall within the scope of my invention, although where the stand has both leg length and swivel adjustability, it is much more versatile than a stand with only the latter. Likewise, a flat member with a plain working, or writing, surface could be substituted for tray 14, in stand S, within the scope of my invention. Here again, the stand would have much less versatility than stand S, since the latter, in addition to holding a book in proper reading position, can, itself, be employed as a desk, or the like, for writing, or similar, purposes.

it is not essential that all four legs of my support stand be angled in the manner illustrated in the drawing. Thus, only one leg of each of the leg assemblies can be so angled, although, as will be evident, this would reduce the positional adjustability of the stand to a significant extent. The tiltable tray, or other top member, of my support stand need not be adjustable through a full 360 degrees of rotation, and such a tray, or top member, with mounting means restricting it to a lesser range of tilt than this could, if desired, be substituted for tray 14 and its supporting hardware.

,The novel support stand of my invention is not necessarily limited to those uses expressly mentioned herein, and it may have many other uses for which its unique character and capabilities suit it. Also, of course, the scope of the present invention includes all variant forms thereof encompassed by the language of the following claim:

-What is claimed is:

1. A support stand particularly suitable for book-holding purposes having a top member with a relatively flat surface area comprising a shallow tray having a rim encircling a bottom which forms said relatively flat surface area, two pairs of spreading legs, and associated means for rigidly holding said top member between the pairs of legs, said top member and said associated means for holding same between said pairs of legs cooperating to permit tiltable adjustment of the top member through 360* degrees around an axis extending between the upper ends of said pairs of legs for the accommodation of persons desiring to use said fiat surface area in a variety of tilt positions;

said support stand including manually adjustable first means for holding the outspread covers of a book flush against the bottom of said shallow tray, and manually adjustable second means for holding the pages of said book open, and permitting the turning of said pages, for reading purposes;

said manually adjustable first means comprising two elastic bands secured at their ends so as to stretch, for at least most of their lengths, across the bottom of said tray and provide resilient means under which the outspread covers of said book can be respectively positioned and which thereafter hold said covers flush against said bottom; and

said manually adjustable second means comprising a relatively thin sheet of clear plastic fastened to the rim of said tray with at least one spring cabinet hinge so as to provide a normally closed cover for the tray through which the pages of an open book can be ready, and which is adapted to hold said book in reading position in the tray regardless of the tilt position of the latter around said axis;

all of said spreading legs being angled and mounted for axially rotatable adjustment of their upper ends to permit the legs to be swiveled and the height and position of said top member thereby changed to render the stand suitable for use by persons in a variety of sitting, and other, positions; and

the lengths of said spreading legs being telescopically adjustable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,231 5/1928 Culbertson 248-445 2,807,908 10/1957 Lykes 248-451 1,400,217 12/1921 Horger 248-441 3,178,143 4/1965 Gustin 248-188 3,259,407 7/1966 Welt 28758 CT 2,880,879 4/1959 Best 248-441 X 2,838,098 6/1958 'Fuerst 248-397 X I. FRANKLIN FOSS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 248-451, 454

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONv Patent No. 3, 664, 629 Dat d May 23, 1972 Invent r( DwightL. Reed It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2., line 70, cancel with".

Column 3, line 70, for "cards" read --cords Column 4, line 57, after "Fig. 3" add a period Claim 1 line 15, for 'i-eady" read --read-.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

[EDWARD M.,.FI.IETCII15R,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attosting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM (10459) uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 a U,$ GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1559 0"355334 

